Stamp pad with means for detachable support of cover



June 9, 1964 MUNSQN 3,136,445

STAMP FAD WITH MEANS FOR DETACHABLE SUPPORT OF COVER Filed Sept. 18, 1962 Hgl.

INVENTOR. WHITNEY K. MUA/SON RTTORNEY United States Patent 3,136,445 STAMP PAD WITH MEANS FOR DETACHABLE SUPPORT OF COVER Whitney K. Munson, R0. Box 312, Red Bank, NJ. Filed Sept. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 224,408 4 Claims. (Cl. 220--31) This invention relates to stamp pads used in conjunction with hand stamps of various types and kinds. More particularly, the invention deals with the provision of means for detachably coupling the usual cover of pads of this type and kind, in addition to providing the pivotal movement of the cover on the pad, so as to facilitate use of the pad without interference of the cover.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference char acters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stamp pad made according to my invention, with parts of the construction broken away and in section and illustrating one part in extended or flexed position in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, with part of the construction shown in elevation.

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating the cover in open position in dotted lines, illustrating part of the spring of the device with the cover removed in dot-dash lines and omitting part of the background showing; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged corner view, generally similar to FIG. 1, with parts of the construction shown in section, illustrating a modification and showing one part in extended or flexed position in dotted lines, parts being omitted.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown at the body of a pad which is generally oblong and rectangular in form and is bordered by front and back walls 11 and 12 and similar side walls 13. The upper surface of the pad, intermediate the boundary walls of the body 10, is recessed for reception of the inking means, not shown, and part of this recess, or recesses, is indicated at 14 in FIGS. 1 and 3. The recessed portion of the pad includes side and front walls of a height common with the height of the back Wall 12 and part of one of these raised side walls is indicated at 15 in FIG. 1 of the drawing, as well as in FIG. 2. This construction provides an upper surface 16 on the walls 11 and 13 which is below the upper surface of the raised portions, as at 15. This structure is modified to the extent that, at the rear portions of the walls 13, upwardly extended flexible ears 17 are on the surface 16 and extend to the height of the portions 15 and the upper surface of the rear wall 12. These ears 17, as well as the rear ends of the walls 13, terminate in rounded projections, as clearly illustrated at 18 in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The inner surface of cars 17 are spaced from outer surfaces of 15 to form recesses, as noted in FIGS. 1 and 4.

It will be understood that the entire body 10, including the several walls and the ears 17, are all molded of rubber or other flexible material. The back wall 12 has a recess, as clearly seen at 19 in FIG. 1 of the drawing, which is spaced with respect to the right-hand end wall 13, this recess being indicated in section in FIG. 3 of the drawing. The recess 19 has a deeper portion adjacent the rear edge of the wall 12, as clearly indicated at 20 in FIG. 3 of the drawing. This recess forms a shoulder in the recessed portion 19 of the wall 12, the function of which will be later described. The right- 3,136,445 Patented June 9, 1964 hand end of the recess 19, as seen in FIG. 1, registers with a downwardly inclined recess 21 opening through the back wall 12 and, in alinement with 21, the inner boundary wall of the recess 19 includes a recess 22. These recesses 21 and 22 provide clearances for reception of one end 23 of a spring 24 mounted on a pin 25 extending longitudinally of and in the back wall 12 and bridging the side walls of the recess 19, as clearly shown in FIG. 1. A similar but shorter pin is arranged in the back wall adjacent the other side wall. Ends of these pins 25 project beyond the raised portions 15 of the side walls 13 and terminate just short of the cars 17, one of these ends projecting into the recess between 15 and 17 as clearly shown at 25' at the right of FIG. 1. These ends form the pivot pin mountings of a cover 26 with the body 10 of the pad.

The cover 26 generally conforms to the contour of the raised portions 15 on the side walls 13 and corresponding portions on the front Wall 11, the showing of the latter being omitted, as it will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. The cover 26 has depending front and side walls, one of the side walls being clearly shown at 27 at the right of FIG. 1 and in side elevation in FIG. 2 and these walls are freely disposed between outer surfaces of the raised portions 15 of the side walls 1 and inner surfaces of the cars 17 to permit movement of the cover toward and from the ears 17 and the walls 15 in the operation of detaching the cover, as later described. The front depending wall of the cover includes an 0utwardly pressed elongated head 23 which is adapted to engage a recess 29 in an upwardly extending flexible catch 30 on the front wall 11 of the body 10, part of this construction being shown in section and this catch is to retain the cover in closed position under the tension of the spring 24 so that, when 30 is flexed outwardly, the spring 24, by virtue of engagement of the end 23 with the undersurface of the cover 26 as clearly noted in full lines in FIG. 3, will move the cover automatically into-the dotted line position indicated, in part, in said figure. The end 23 of the spring preferably has a rounded portion, as at 23', for free movement over the surface of the cover and also to provide a protruding head which will project beyond the rear surface of the wall 12, as indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3 of the drawing, as

v and when the cover 26 has been removed, as later described. The other end 31 ofthe spring 24, note FIG. 3, engages the shoulder formed by the recess 20 in maintaining the desired tensional control and functioning of the spring.

Both of the side walls 27 of the cover 26 have, at their rear ends, projecting rounded hinge portions 32, apertured,

as seen at 33, to receive the pivot ends 25' of the pins 25. While one end portion only of the cover pivot is shown clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be understood that the lefthand end is of the same construction. Also considering these figures, it will appear that the rear edge of the cover, intermediate and inwardly of the walls 27, has a raised curved lip 34 which strikes the rear surface of the wall 12 in checking automatic movement of the cover into the raised dotted line position of FIG. 3.

Considering FIG. 1, it will be apparent that outward flexure of the ears 17, as indicated by the dotted line position of the righthand ear 17 permits movement of the cover to the right to disengage the righthand wall 27 from the pivot end 25 of the pin; whereupon, the same operation is performed by outward flexing of the lefthand car 17; whereupon, the cover 26 is removed from the two pivot ends and the pad now remains fully open with the top of the pad and surfaces bordering the pad freely accessible for use of the pad without interference which might otherwise prevail with the cover 26 in the open 3 I position, or extended position beyond the wall 12. In many instances, the work being stamped is brought into close proximity to boundary walls of the pad and, by removal of the cover, the pad becomes accessible at all boundary walls of thepad. When an operation has been completed, the cover can be quickly rte-assembled by again flexing the ears 17 and passing the pivot ends 25' of the pins 25 into the apertures 33. In the above described operation of detachment. of the cover, it will be apparent that the end 23 of the spring having the head 23 assumes the position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3, in other words, in the recess 21 with said head protruding beyond the rear surface of the wall 12. In reassemblage' of the cover, the rear edge portion of thecover is moved into engagement with the head 23' and vertically along the rear wall 12 to first bring the spring end 23 upon the inner surface of the cover, after which, the coupling with the pivot ends 25' is accomplished.

In FIG. 4 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification, wherein the body of the pad is of the same general construction as the pad shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, and is modified only to the extent that a short pin 35 is employed and this pin bridges the recess 19 in the rear wall. 12, but its end 35 terminates short of the outer surface of the raised portion 15 of the side wall 13. In other words, it does not include the pivot end, as at 25'. 17 will have a pin 36 fixed therein in alinement with the pin 35, the pin 36 having a protruding pivot end 36' which extends into the recess between 15 and 17 and operates in an aperture in the rear portion of the side wall 27 of the cover, similar to the engagement of the cover with the pivot pin end 25, as clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. In FIG. 4, the ear I7 is shown in an outwardly flexed position, so as to clear the pivot end 36' with the aperture in the wall 27 and allow detachment of the wall, as with thestructure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive. In other words, with both structures, 25' and 36 have ends terminating in the recess, which facilitate detachment of the walls 27 of the cover. In the construction shown, each of the pins at opposed side Walls of the pad will have a slightly enlarged collar 37, which can be forcibly passed through the aperture 38 in the ear 17 and the outer end of the pin will have a head 39 which, in combination with 37, will retain the pin 36 against accidental displacement. It will be apparent that any other means can be provided for retaining the pins 36 in position. The structure of FIG. 4 simplifies the device in minimizing the length of the rod 35- and further simplifies attachment and detachment of the cover. In FIG. 4 of the drawing, the spring'24 has been omitted in order to simplify the showing and, in the broken-away portions, the recess 20, as well as the recesses 21 and 22 are clearly shown. The spring used in conjunction with the struc- Substituted for this pivot end, each of the side ears be understood that, with the structure of FIG. 4, a pin,

similar to the pin 25, is not employed at the left side of the base. In other words, this side of the base will only have a pin 36 mounted in the car 17 provided at that side.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. A device of'the' character described comprising a base defined by front, rear and side walls, a cover for the upper surface of the base, the base having at side walls adjacent the rear wall pivot means, the cover having at sides thereof means engaging said pivot means, means providing detachment. of the cover from said pivot means, said last named means comprising flexible means at sides of the base adjacent said pivot means, the base being formed of rubber, said flexible means comprising upwardly extending ears integral with the base, said pivot means comprising rod ends mounted in the rear wall of the base and terminating adjacent said ears, a portion of which of said rods bridges a recess in the rear wall of the base, a coil spring mounted on. that part of the rod bridging said recess, and said spring having an end operatively engaging the cover in movement of the cover into open position on said pivot means.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base defined by front, rear and side walls, said base having a raised portion set inwardly at front and sides ofthe base, raised flexible cars at rear sides of the base spaced from sides of said raised portion by recesses, pivot means bridging said recesses, a cover mounted on the raised portion of the base, said cover having depending side walls overlying said raised portion, side walls of the cover being mounted on said pivot means for movement of the cover into raised and lowered positions, a coil spring mounted in the raised portion at the rear of the base, said spring having an end operatively engaging the cover in movement of the cover into open position on said pivot means, and said pivot means comprising pins having ends terminating in said recesses facilitating detachment of the cover in fiexure of said ears.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said pins are mounted in the rear raisedportion of the base.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said pins are mounted in said ears.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,295,494 Valentine Sept. 8, 1942 2,393,568 Root Jan. 22, 1946 2,557,048 Haase June 12, 1951 3,086,676 Dilatusk Apr. 23, 1963 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A BASE DEFINED BY FRONT, REAR AND SIDE WALLS, A COVER FOR THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BASE, THE BASE HAVING AT SIDE WALLS ADJACENT THE REAR WALL PIVOT MEANS, THE COVER HAVING AT SIDES THEREOF MEANS ENGAGING SAID PIVOT MEANS, MEANS PROVIDING DETACHMENT OF THE COVER FROM SAID PIVOT MEANS, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS COMPRISING FLEXIBLE MEANS AT SIDES OF THE BASE ADJACENT SAID PIVOT MEANS, THE BASE BEING FORMED OF RUBBER, SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS COMPRISING UPWARDLY EXTENDING EARS INTEGRAL WITH THE BASE, SAID PIVOT MEANS COMPRISING ROD ENDS MOUNTED IN THE REAR WALL OF THE BASE AND TERMINATING ADJACENT SAID EARS, A PORTION OF WHICH OF SAID RODS BRIDGES A RECESS IN THE REAR WALL OF THE BASE, A COIL SPRING MOUNTED ON THAT PART OF THE ROD BRIDGEING SAID RECESS, AND SAID SPRING HAVING AN END OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE COVER IN MOVEMENT OF THE COVER INTO OPEN POSITION ON SAID PIVOT MEANS. 